Tuesday, December 23, 2008

If I suggested you make homemade butternut squash ravioli as an appetizer for your holiday meal, what would you say? You'd say no. That's because you would envision some long complicated process fraught with disappointment.

People throw around the "best thing since sliced bread" line for all kinds of things, and rarely do they deserve such a tribute. Ready-to-use wonton skins, however, are not only the "best thing since sliced bread," they are better than sliced bread…much better.

Anyone can slice bread (except those cooks on Hell's Kitchen), but how many people make paper-thin, perfectly round wonton skins. Hopefully this video recipe shows you just how easy ravioli can be when using this easy-to-find, and very liberating product.

I've used them for tortellini, pierogi, dumplings, ravioli, and yes, even wontons, all with terrific results. There are eight million known ravioli fillings, so once you get this simple technique down you have a lot of recipes to try. I've also posted a few (very) old videos that use the same product. Enjoy!

Hi Chef, so my little boy (almost 6) was watching the ravioli vid with me and asked when you wet the wontons with your finger 'why doesn't he just lick them like an envelope'? He just learned about xmas cards so this was still on his mind I guess. I figured I would let you explain as I am still dieing laughing. Ah, the simplicity of kids. thanks for the tastee recipe and merry christmas!

Hahaha @ "Around the outside"! You were always great, but now you just became hip also!

This looks so delicious. I have a sad little Lean Cuisine frozen Butternut Squash Ravioli dinner sitting in my freezer right this very moment that I am positive will be so very disappointing now that I've watched this video. Thanks for ruining my pre-packaged frozen dinner. :( And on Christmas Eve too... The nerve.

I just made these. They're pretty incredible. I did have to roast the squash for about 1.5 hours, but that could have just been my oven. Also, a strainer is an absolute must. Slotted spoons cause mess! But anyway, great winter dish and way to get rid of some squash I had lying around from my farm subscription. Will eat again tomorrow!

Chef John, such an inspiration! Last night 4/26, I made your homemade tomato sauce, ricotta meatballs and classic spinach riotta tortellini. I would have never made tortellini (which is too easy not to do folks)I was so proud I took a picture. Thank you so much for your humour, it played a part in me making this recipe :) PS, everthing was from scratch except the wonton wraps. SO PROUD!

Hi Chef! I love your video tutorials (AND your cute sense of humor)! I just discovered this recipe from your archives and I look forward to trying it, as I love, love, love butternut squash (and other winter squashes). One commentor asked if the filling could be frozen, to which you replied "yes". My question is - can I pre-fill the ravioli and freeze them, so that all I need to do is boil them? If so, I might even buy fresh garlic for making the sauce! (That's a big step for me, too!)